The United States of America has congratulated governor Udom Emmanuel on his reelection at the polls and other elected official from the state to various legislative Houses.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, who led a delegation of USAID and CDC to government House on a courtesy visit to the governor, said Emmanuel’s reelection places a great responsibility on him to continue to serve the people of the state and nation.
Symington who commended the governor on various strides made in health care delivery and other infrastructural amenities in the state said he was looking forward to seeing the elected officials work to serve men and women of the state.
He noted that among the reasons for his visit was to launch the most important efforts in medi-care that the US has ever made anywhere in the world to save lives first, otherwise other amenities put in place by government would come to naught without a healthy family.
He sued for collaborative efforts between the United States Center for Disease Control and Government of Akwa Ibom state in the fight against HIV/AIDs menace and other diseases in the next one year.
In his remarks, Emmanuel expressed appreciation to the delegation for choosing Akwa Ibom State as one of the states for the launching of the efforts ever made anywhere in the world for safe people, safe city, not only in terms of security but also in terms of healthcare.
He said his government would like to know the level of collaboration in terms of funding and equipment being brought in to the state by the American government in comparison to what the state has done.
According to the Governor Emmanuel, “whatsoever investment is made by the United States government; I will love to see transparency in accounting for those investments. That will encourage us to actually believe whatsoever is put across.” Said he “So if American Government is going to invest a lot more, let’s see that transparency, Let’s be a partner not just in the target you’ve set, but to also know how the funds came in, how they’ve been spent and what they are being spent for.”
Speaking further, the governor said “I believe that at the end of the day when we take stock of what we have achieved, you will also be proud of what we have done and we also will be proud of what you have done, adding, “I want to say here that we want to partner with you and this effort.”
Assuring the delegation of the government support, Emmanuel said, “I want to assure you we will not leave it entirely for your own people. We have a role to play, not just at the few hospitals you’ve been shown around, we are developing a whole lot of secondary healthcare facilities and we are going to make them well equipped to achieve our goal.”
